View Launch WEBCAST: Countdown To First Virginia Coast Launch Of LADEE To The Moon Webcast: Http://bit.ly/1dDZEpv

A hypothesized mechanism for the origin of life, an event called abiogenesis.  In this version, called RNA world, small molecules called nucleotides formed in the waters of the early Earth during the Hadean Eon, and polymerized on the surface of clay minerals.  These simple chains of RNA could replicate themselves in solution, but only slowly and inaccurately.  An RNA molecule developed which would fold into a structure that catalyzed RNA polymerization; a ribozyme.  The first ribozymes would replicate their sister strands, and produce copies of themselves and other RNA molecules. 

     In the same environment, long chains of carbon molecules called phospholipids were formed.  These molecules have two parts, the tail, which is hydrophobic, and the head, which is hydrophillic.  Because of these properties phospholipids will stick together and form micelles and vesicles in water.  Vesicles can absorb RNA nucleotides, concentrating them and creating a space where they can replicate, mutate and evolve.  At some point a ribozyme became enclosed within a vesicle, starting a chain reaction that evolved into the multitude of biological forms that we see today.

   Because this event occurred more than 3.8 billion years ago, theories about how and where it happened are highly speculative.  Possible environments for abiogensis include hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor, hyper saline bubbles of water trapped in ice, radioactive lakes or lagoons on earths surface, and even in space or on another planet, brought to earth through a panspermia event.  We have very little molecular evidence of the first cells, but ribozymes and catalytic RNA molecules are embedded in the DNA replication machinery of all life.  Because evidence of this event has almost certainly been lost to time, the true mechanisms of the origin of life may remain a mystery to science.

The Orionid Meteor Shower, Leftovers from Halley's Comet, Set to Peak October 20th - 21st

Sleek GOCE Spacecraft Will Have Uncontrolled Re-entry into Earth’s Atmosphere http://bit.ly/19loV7S

View launch WEBCAST: Countdown to First Virginia Coast Launch of LADEE to the Moon Webcast: http://bit.ly/1dDZEpv NASA is making final preparations to launch a Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) at 11:27 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 6, from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va. Follow LADEE's latest news at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility: http://1.usa.gov/1dDZQVG

Hate it when I accidently put protons on my salad. 😊 #proton #electron #neutron #crouton https://www.instagram.com/p/B09y40jhEB5/?igshid=1jkhzr7zao3oz

Scientists in Switzerland use sound waves to levitate, manipulate matter. http://bit.ly/15z86Ro As anyone with a subwoofer and a teenager knows, sound waves exert pressure. When those waves are bounced between carefully aligned surfaces, they can create what is known as a standing wave, in which the total pressure from the original wave and its reflection cancel each other out. Objects placed at spots along the wave with the lowest amplitude, known as node points, tend to stay put. Being able to manipulated matter without touching it promises a wealth of applications, from material sciences to biology. For instance nucleic acids can be introduced into cells – a process known as DNA transfection – without fear of contamination."You can basically play with cells in a droplet," says Foresti While commuting via acoustically levitated skateboards may be far off in the future, Foresti says that he hopes that other researchers will soon find novel uses for his method. Meet our heros: http://bit.ly/15z9inT Video: Acoustophoretic Waltz Sodium and water dance a Waltz. http://bit.ly/15z86Ro Courtesy: Dr. Daniele Foresti http://bit.ly/15z96VB

GROOVY NEWS ALERT: We are excited to announce Groovy Lab in a Box is an Edison Awards 2020 Nominee. @EdisonAwards #thomasedison #edison #groovylabinabox #EA20 #EdisonAwards #scientist #science #stemist #STEMeducation https://www.instagram.com/p/B6CdBFlBy0M/?igshid=z0wpz097xstx

"I am a STEM'ist, and you?"  - Helena G. Niksen

MapMaker Interactive! Looking for more dynamic maps? Cold fronts, precipitation, climate zones? Explore your world with map themes, data, and tools for customizing your map! http://bit.ly/19GfFeS Printable 1-page maps of continents, countries, and states. Customize one-page maps and download, email, print, or share! http://bit.ly/166rFAb